Chinese Racism in California Essay - 1887 Words

Chinese Racism in California The Chinese Question When thousands of Chinese migrated to California after the gold rush the presence caused concern and debate from other Californians. This discussion, popularly called the â€Å"Chinese Question,† featured in many of the contemporary accounts of the time. In the American Memory Project’s â€Å"California: As I Saw It† online collection, which preserves books written in California from 1849-1900, this topic is debated, especially in conjunction with the Chinese Exclusion Act. The nine authors selected offer varying analyses on Chinese discrimination and this culminating act. Some give racist explanations, but the majority point towards the perceived economic competition between†¦show more content†¦His recounting is unique because Davis was the son of a Polynesian mother and a Boston ship captain and even though he has an Asian heritage he is still staunchly against the Chinese. In his book he writes about his life as a prosperous merchant i n San Francisco from 1845 until 1909 and details the different governments in California and the issues that Californians faced. He cites several reasons for disliking the Chinese, one is a visit to Chinatown where â€Å"the smell from the filth that surrounded their habitations was so offensive that he [a friend] and I were glad to retreat to the street above us and into the pure air.† Another example is morally tinged and he explains that the Chinese â€Å"presence was demoralizing to the youthful people of the young State.†[2] Unlike Brewer, Davis also gives an economic reason to exclude the Chinese and explains that they â€Å"will, unless they are kept out of the country, in time obtain the control of all branches of business, the same as they have done in Manila.† Which would be a tragedy because â€Å"Their immorality is of the most iniquitous character.†[3] Like Brewer, Davis cites moral reasons to discriminate against the Chinese, but he also asserts that if the Chinese remain they will take over economically. 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